Mentoring youth is a rewarding and meaningful experience. Sometimes challenging, and always enlightening. When many of our rangatahi (youth) today are anxious and overwhelmed with pressures, having a focused adult to listen, share thoughts and help guide you can literally be the difference between ok and not ok.
Watching a shy, mistrusting teen gain confidence, smile, communicate with emotional balance and make better choices is just the best! Witnessing them grow pride and mana and a sense of belonging is not only special and rewarding but also really brings some light and hope to our communities.
The fun, entertaining and uber-knowledgeable Ross McCook from Heart For Youth delivered a module of his Youth Mentoring programme. All of us left with more confidence, more tools and more understanding after ‘meeting’ some of his incredible mentees and their success stories.
Many of our youth are lost and living without hope. A trustworthy and caring mentor can help build self-esteem and hope. With that, worlds change. We save lives and build strong communities.
It was great to see our volunteers enjoying the break from normal daily mahi, meeting and connecting with others, sharing kai and little appreciation treats, and learning new skills together.
If you’d like to find out more about youth mentoring in the Bay of Islands-Mid North area, we’d love to hear from you.
We appreciate our funders who help us provide these opportunities to connect, learn and support our Tamariki together.
If you’d like to partner in any way to help build safer communities, stronger futures and healthy youth- Please email Thérèse at tw@baldangels.org.nz
Check out our page here: https://www.baldangels.org.nz/our-youth/